Navigating Safe Cargo Transport: Lessons from a Case Study

If you are a ‘consignor’ importing freight from overseas into Australia in shipping containers, this post on the case findings of a heavy vehicle accident will be of most interest to you.

Facts of the Case

In this case study, we delve into an incident involving a company that served as a ‘consignor,’ responsible for importing construction materials from overseas to Australia. The critical events took place in November 2019 when the company transported timber goods in a shipping container, enlisting a transport company for delivery. The mode of transportation was a prime mover towing a skeletal semi-trailer, but a turning manoeuvre at an intersection resulted in the heavy vehicle combination tipping over. Remarkably, no injuries occurred during this incident.

Now, let’s explore the key details and takeaways from this case in greater depth:

Key Takeaway

The key lesson from this case underscores the importance of stringent safety measures in the transportation of goods, emphasising the need for compliance with load restraint regulations to protect heavy vehicle drivers and other road users.

Summary

The case revolves around a company’s importation of timber goods via a shipping container and subsequent transportation to its depot.
A turning incident at an intersection caused the heavy vehicle to tip over, fortunately without any injuries.
Investigation findings unveiled various issues, including improper load restraint, incorrect labelling of container weight, and gaps within the container.
Inconsistent receipt of information regarding container packing practices added to the problem.
Post-incident, the company took corrective actions, implementing safety measures and providing loading instructions to suppliers.
The company faced legal consequences for breaching its primary duty, endangering heavy vehicle drivers and road users.
Importantly, this case highlights that non-compliance with safety regulations can lead to legal charges, irrespective of whether accidents occur.

Key Takeaways

Consignors, even when outsourcing transportation, are obligated to adhere to safety regulations.
Consignors should establish comprehensive compliance systems, provide clear instructions to overseas suppliers, and ensure adherence to safety regulations and internal policies.
Consignors of imported goods must ensure that their overseas suppliers comply with Australian load restraint requirements.
It’s crucial to understand that the Heavy Vehicle National Law prioritises the prevention of potential harm, not just the reaction to actual harm.
To mitigate load restraint risks for heavy vehicles, recommended measures include gap-filling, using lashings and nets, load stabilisation, and more.
Require records and photographs of the container’s load and restraint to be provided prior to shipping.
Advise transport operators on how the load was restrained.

You can read the full case learnings from the NHVR by following this link.

Enhancing Container Packing Safety: A Safe Container Packing Checklist

Packing shipping containers demands precision and adherence to safety protocols. To streamline this process and reduce risks, we’ll explore how DIGI CLIP mobile forms, including checklists and photo documentation, can play a pivotal role in enhancing container packing safety.

DIGI CLIP empowers organisations to enhance safety and compliance in container loading through four key components: Checklist Implementation, Photo Documentation, Real-time Reporting, and Supplier Communication.

1. Checklist Implementation:

- Comprehensive Container Loading Checklist: Create a detailed checklist within DIGI CLIP that covers all critical aspects of container packing, including weight distribution, load restraint, and documentation verification.
- Customisable Templates: Customise checklist templates to match the specific requirements of your cargo and industry regulations.
- Real-time Compliance: Ensure that all required steps are completed and documented in real-time. DIGI CLIP allows you to track progress and compliance as each item is checked off.

2. Photo Documentation:

- Visual Record-Keeping: Use DIGI CLIP to capture photos of the container’s interior during and after packing. This visual documentation provides a clear record of the cargo arrangement and load restraint.
- Before and After Photos: Take “before” photos of the empty container and “after” photos once it’s loaded. This helps identify any discrepancies or issues during loading.
- Evidence of Compliance: Photos serve as concrete evidence that load restraint measures and packing procedures were followed correctly.

3. Real-time Reporting:

- Instant Reporting: Generate real-time reports and summaries from DIGI CLIP mobile forms. This allows immediate sharing of container packing details with stakeholders.
- Data Analytics: Analyse data from completed checklists and photo documentation to identify trends, areas for improvement, and potential risks.
- Compliance Alerts: Set up email alerts within DIGI CLIP to notify responsible parties of any non-compliance issues, allowing for rapid corrective action.

4. Supplier Communication:

- Supplier Instructions: Use DIGI CLIP to convey specific packing instructions to overseas suppliers. Ensure they are aware of and comply with Australian load restraint requirements.
- Documented Compliance: Suppliers can use DIGI CLIP to document their compliance with instructions, providing a traceable record of their actions.

Conclusion

By incorporating DIGI CLIP mobile forms into the container packing process, companies can establish a robust system for mitigating risks associated with shipping container loading. The combination of comprehensive checklists, photo documentation, real-time reporting, and supplier communication enhances safety, compliance, and transparency in this critical aspect of logistics.

DIGI CLIP empowers organisations to proactively manage risks, prevent incidents, and safeguard both heavy vehicle drivers and road users by ensuring that cargo is properly loaded and restrained. It’s a valuable tool for businesses committed to safety and compliance in the transportation of goods.

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DIGI CLIP mobile forms – What Do We Do?

DIGI CLIP mobile forms is an easy-to-use inexpensive digital checklist & inspection app and cloud-based software. DIGI CLIP is used across different industries to capture safety and compliance data and other information to help improve safety, compliance and operational efficiencies.

DIGI CLIP will allow you to remove paper reporting from your business – no more lost, late missing or illegible checklists. The DIGI CLIP mobile app allows images, comments and digital signatures to be added to checklists from a phone or tablet.

DIGI CLIP has a Form Library where you can access all of your checklists, inspections and more ready for use. All checklists and inspections can be edited or updated to meet your risk and operational requirements.

DIGI CLIP also has a safety management module called Safety Tracker. Safety Tracker is our incident and hazard reporting and management software application that adds to DIGI CLIP mobile forms. Incidents and hazards are reported via the DIGI CLIP app or directly on the cloud-based software. Incident and quality Investigations and hazard assessments are completed on templates provided by DIGI CLIP and corrective and closeout actions are tracked by the cloud-based software.

Follow this link if you want to know more about what we do and how we can help or send us a message.